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(No Model.) V I 2 Sheets-Sheet l. H. P. PAIEFIELD 81L. A. SHEAD- ORESEPARATOR.

Pate amfi 675600214 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$het 2.

H... P. PAIRFIELD '& L. A. .SHEADQ ORE SEPARATORJ I 110,295,992.Patet-ed Apr. 1. 1884.

UNITED STATES HADLEY P. FAIRFIELD, OF WEST MEDFORD, MASS. AND LOUIS A.SHEAD,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF ALAMEDA, CAL, ASSIGNORS TO GORDON MGKAY, TRUSTEE.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,992, dated April 1,188%.

Application filed Ma 10,1es3. No model.)

To cbZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that we, HADLEY P. FAIRFIELD,

of West Medford, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, and LOUISA. SHEAD, of Alameda, county of Alameda, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Ore- Separators, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification.

The same letters of reference represent the same parts of the inventionin the drawings.

Our invention relates to that class of oreseparators in which materialsof different specin'c gravities are acted upon by a running streamflowing through a sluice or conduit.

Sluices have been made having their bottoms provided with narrowtransverse slits, through which a portion of the valuable material ofhigh specific gravity fell into a receptacle .placedbeneath the sluiceto receive it, the said portion of valuable material being thusseparated from the lighter worthless material, which was carriedon overtheslits with the stream; but in no such apparatus heretofore invented,so far as we are aware. was it possible to separate all, or even a largeproportion, of the valuable from the worthless material. In ourapparatus the bottom of the sluice is provided with narrow transverseslits of different widths, varying (as hereinafter described) fromperhaps about one one-hundredth slits.

to one-sixteenth of an inch or more, whereby almost the whole of thevaluable material may be saved in a highly concentrated state, the finerparticles passing through the narrower slits and the coarser particlesthrough the wider In such a sluice, if the materials are caused to passalong the bottom of the sluice 4o accomplished. In order to permit thefinest.

in a layerso thin as to be practically without ripples, the separationis much more readily particles of heavy material to drop through thenarrowest slits, instead of being swept over them, the stream is causedto pass very slowly over the said slits, the velocity, however, beingsufficient to sweep the equally fine but lighter worthless particlesover the said slits;

and in order to have the larger particles of different specific gravityproperly separated at the wider slits, the stream has imparted to bymaking the bottom of the sluice of variable inclination, and we purposeto so proportion the velocity of the stream to the width of the slitsthat each width shall be washed by that velocity of stream which shallmost effectually operate to separate the heavier from the lighterparticles of a given size, and to provide for every given velocity ofcurrent a sufficient number of slits of a width adapted to said velocityto save all of the heavy valuable material of thatsize. For preventingthe slits from becoming clogged by grains of suchform as may enter butnot pass through them, means are provided operating to push back suchgrains from beneaththat is, in the direction from which they entered.This is accomplished in this instance by making the parts of the bottomin which the slits are formed in movable portions, which are agitatedfrom timeto time to dislodge such grains as may have become wedged inbetween the edges of the slits. The operation of clearing the slits isperformed by mechanism wholly outside of the stream flowing through thesluice, and consequently not disturbing the saidstream, and itself notbeing exposed to the wearing effects of the said stream, or endangeredby the heavy masses of rock carried by it.

The invention, to these several ends, consists in various details ofconstruction, hereinafter specified, and claimed, whereby the width ofthe slits may be adjusted and the movable bottom operated automaticallyto keep the slits clean; and also in the construction of the receptaclefor the valuable material or concentrate, and means for ejecting itscontents, and for preventing unauthorized persons from tampering withthe said receptacle.

Figure 1 represents a portion of a mine having a bed-rock tunnel and asluice leading therefrom,'provided with an ore-separating apparatusembodying this invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of theseparating apparatus on a larger scale; Fig. 3, a partial transversesection on line w m, Fig. 2; Fig. 4,

a partial transverse section on line y y, Fig. 2 5

i and Fig. 5, adetail of the device for closing present invention isshown in Fig. 1 as used in connection with a hydraulic mine, A, in whichthe gold-bearing deposits are disintegrated by the action of a powerfuljet of water, and carried by the stream of water through a tunnel, B,cut in the bed-rock. The stream on issuing from the tunnel passesthrough a sluice, .0, provided with the usual riffles, (see Fig. 2,) inwhich the largersized particles of valuable material collect in theusual manner, the stream being also passed through suitable gratings orgrizzlies, in order to remove the larger rocks and coarse worthlessgravel. When material is treated in this manner, there is usually aconsiderable quantity of valuable .material which passes by the ritflesD and is lost, and in order to prevent such waste, and to effectuallyseparate all the heavier valuable materials from the lighter worthlessmaterials, the stream is passed through a portion of the sluice, thebottom of which is composed of a series of transverse pieces or plates,(1, having small open slits 2 between them. The said slits at the higherend or farther up the stream are narrower, and those lower down ofincreasing width, the actual width varying in accordance with the natureof the material being treated, but usually being'from about oneone-hundredth of an inch to perhaps one-sixteenth of an inch, more orless. The stream, with the materials therein, may be further passed overanother set of the usual riffles, D, arranged at the lower end of thesluice, to collect any valuable particles which might have passed theriftles D and slits 2.

Transverse slits have been used in ore-separators previous tothisinvention, and are not in themselves claimed as a part of thisinvention; and in considering any one of the said slits it is possiblethat its operation upon certain portions of the material passing over itis substantially the same as in apparatus before employed, permittingheavier valuable particles to pass through the said slits, while thelighter worthless particles are swept over them by the stream.

In practicing our invention the sluice is made of such width andinclination, as it approaches the portion provided with the slits, thatthe stream sweeps the material over the said slits with a comparativelysmall velocity, and the materials carried by the stream are sodistributed as to pass along the bottom in a thin layer without tumblingone over the other, and upon arriving at the uppermost narrowest slitsthe finest material of comparatively high specific gravity will passthrough the said slits, while the equally fine material of lowerspecific gravity is carried along with nearly the same speed as thewater and will be swept over the said slits, which thus operate toseparate the fine in the sides of the sluice.

and heavy from the light material, while the coarse materials are toolarge to pass through the said narrow slits. As the stream passes ontoward the lower and wider slits, it has imparted to it a greatervelocity by making the inclination of the bottom steeper, and in thismanner the larger particles, which are of too great size to have passedthrough the upper narrow slits, are acted upon in a similar manner atthe wider slits-via, the heavier materials dropping through the saidslits while the lighter materials of the same size and smaller are sweptover the said slits by the force of the stream, and thus at each slit aportion of the material the particles of which are of a sizeproportioned to the size of said slit is acted upon, the heavy particlesof that size passing through, while the lighter particles pass over. Theactual variation in pitch or inclination of the bottom of the sluice isquite small, so that it is hardly perceptible to the eye in a drawingmade to scale, as shown in Fig. 2, and it is shown somewhat exaggeratedin Fig. 1.

In order to prevent the slit 2 from being clogged by intruding materialtoo large to pass through, we have provided mechanism for operating theplates for dislodging the particles or clearing the slits; and in orderto protect the mechanism by which the cleaning operation is performedfrom being broken or displaced, oritself clogged by the gravel or stoneswhich may pass down through the sluice O, we have placed the saidmechanism entirely outside of the stream flowing through the saidsluice.

As shown in this instance of our invention, the portions a of thebottom, the edges of which constitute the sides of the slits, are mademovable, they being in this instance pivoted upon arbors b, turningonbearing-blocks 0, having flanges c resting against and secured to theface of the side walls of the sluice C, while the said arbors I) passout through longitudinal slots 3 in the sides of the sluice. The saidbearingblocks 0 0 are fixed upon the sides of the sluice by bolts d, theshanks of which pass through slots 4 in the sides of the sluice, or inthe flanges c of the blocks, as may be preferred, thus enabling the saidblocks to be adjusted in relation to one another to thereby vary thewidth of the slits 2, formed between the edges of. the portions a of thebottom. The spaces between the flanges c of the bearing-blocks may befitted with rubber or other suitable packing, as shown at c, Fig. 2, toprevent the-escape of water and other materials through the slots 8 Thebottom pieces, a, are thus adapted to have an oscillating movement,which may be produced by rocking their arbors b, having actuating-arms fconnected therewith, the said arms being sh own as connected together attheir ends by a con necting-rod, h, to thus enable the arbors andconnected bottom pieces or plates, a, to be moved simultaneously. One ofthe said arms enable the series of bottom pieces to be movedsimultaneously by the hand of anoperator when desired. The movement ofthe said armsf is limited by stops t i, they being norby a suitablespring, 70, or equivalent, the said bottom pieces, a, then being intheir normal 3 y position, so that the lower edgeof one is about ro tothus properly define the slits 2., In the opposite the upper edge of thenext lower one,

movement of the arms f between the stops 1; t"

the lower edge of each bottom piece, a, is raised and the upper edgeislowered, and the said bottom plates are pivoted to turn upon an axissubstantially in the same plane with both their edges, so that in thesaid movement their edges immediately recede from one anjother, therebyreleasing the particles which may have become wedged between them withvout punching or crushing the said particles, and consequently with theleast possible amount of wear to the said edges. This movement of thebottom pieces to clear the slits formed between them should be of shortduration, in order to interfere as little as possible with theseparating operation; and it may ;be produced automatically, if desired,at suitable intervals of time. As herein shown, one such automaticmechanism consists of the connecting-rod h for the arms f, provided atits end with a cam-roller, h, which is acted upon by a cam projection,m, actuated by a suitable 1 wheel,m, turned bythestreampassingthroughthe flume. The materials passing through the slits 2 enter a tight,strong receptacle, E, below,

a the sluice, it having, if desired, one or more 3 a partitions, F, toseparate the materials passing through the different slits. The saidreceptacle Eis provided with an ejecting device, n-

, shown in this instance as a worm- -fitting a suitable socket, n, inthe bottom, of the receptacle, and provided with a cap or cover nearlyinclosing the said worm, openings or longitudinal slots 6 being left topermit the concentrate to pass in and fill the spaces be- 1, tween thethreads of the worm. The bottom of the receptacle is inclined, as shownin Fig.

i I 4, to facilitate the entrance of the concentrate i the worm n, theend of thesaid passage being through the slots 6 into thedischarge-passage formed between the'portions n nioccupied by closed bya suitable door or cover, 0, made in i two portions to embrace the shaftof the worm n. The said door is provided with a suitable lock, 0 toprevent it from being opened ex- 3 ceptby the properperson.

When it is desired to remove the conceni trate from the, receptacle E,the door 0 is i i in this instance by a crank, 19, with a handle,

opened, and the ejecting device a is operated 1;,which isprovided with asuitable lock, 1),

to prevent it from being operated except at propertimes. The ejectorshould only be operated when the concentrate has filled the lowerportion of the receptacle E to a considerable depth, so that when thecover 0 is 'extent, the concentrate then filling the discharge-passageand covering the slots 6,lead-, ing thereto, so as to make itpractically water-tight. Afixed plate, a, set in the bottom of theflume. co-operates with the upper one of the movable bottom pieces, a,to makea slit, and a stationary plate, a in a similar manner forms oneside of the lowermost slit. The said plate a extends for a shortdistance over the bottom B of the sluice below the receptacle E, thusaffording an overflow-passage between the plate a and the bottom Bforthe receptacle E, and guiding the worthless materials down below thesaid receptacle.

We do not herein broadly claim, in an oreseparating apparatus, a sluicehavinga portion of its bottom provided with narrow transverse slits ofdifferent widths, whereby particles of heavy material of various sizesmay be separated from particles of lighter materialsof various sizes,the same being reserved for the application forLetters Patent havingSerial No. 114,7 82, filed December 17, 1883. y

WVe claim- 1. In a sluice for separating materials of diferent specificgravity, movable bottom plates, the edges of which form the sides ofnarrow transverse slits of different widths through the sluice-bottom,substantially as described.

bottom plates arranged to form narrow transverse slits of differentwidths, each of said bottom pieces being pivoted to turn on an axis inthe plane of its edges, whereby the slits may be cleared of intrudingparticles, substantially as set forth.

3. A sluice having a portion of its bottom provided with narrowtransverse slits, and made of varied inclination or steepness,whereby avaried speed is imparted to the stream flowing over it, substantially asdescribed.

4. A sluice having a portion of its bottom vided with slits of difierentwidths, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A sluice having a portion of its bottom composed of plates havingnarrow transverse slits of different widths between them, the saidplates being bodily adjustable withrelation to one another forregulating the width of the slits, substantially as described.

6. In a sluice for separating materials of different specific gravity,pivotal adjustable bottom plates, the edges of which form the sides ofnarrow transverse slits of different widths through the sluice bottom,combined with mechanism, substantially as described, to rock said platesto dislodge particles from the slits set forth. 7

7. In a sluice for separating materials of different specific gravity,pivotal bottom plates, the edges of which form the sides of narrow 2. Ina sluice for separating ore, movable to keep said slits in operativecondition, as

opened the water will not escape to any great i of varied inclination orsteepness, and protransverse slits of different widths through thesluice-bottom, combined with mechanism, substantially as described, torock said plates, to dislodge particles from the slits to keep saidslits in operative condition, as set forth.

8. A sluice having openings through its. bottom, and a receptacle,- E,arranged below it, combined with an ejecting-worm, n, and lock therefor,to prevent the'same from being operated, substantially as described.

9. The sluice having a series of openings through its bottom, and areceptacle below it, having a discharge-passage provided with a suitableopening, 6, combined with an ejecting device consisting of a wormadapted to rotate in the said passage, substantially as described.

10. The sluice having a series of openings through its bottom, and areceptacle below it, having a discharge-passage provided with a suitableopening, 6, combined with an ejector to clear the said passage frommaterial deposited therein through the said opening 6, substantially asdescribed.

11. The sluice provided with movable bottom pieces arranged therein toform slits of different Widths, and arms connected with said plates,combined with means to actuate the said arms, substantially asdescribed.

12. The sluice and receptacle below it, having a discharge-passageprovided with openings 6, the bottom of said receptacle being inclinedtoward said passage, to facilitate the entrance of the concentrate intothe said passage, combined with an ejector to clear the said passage ofconcentrate, substantially as described.

13. The sluice and the receptacle E, and the fixed plate of, located ashort distance above the bottom of the sluice, and with its upper edgelocated above the said receptacle, combined and in line with a movablebottom plate, the edge of which co-operates with the edge of the saidfixed. plate to form a slit, substantially as described.

14. The sluice and movable bottom pieces and their bearing-blocks,combined with packing to close the spaces between the adjacent ends ofthe said bearing-blocks, substantially as described.

15. The sluice, the receptacle having a discharge-passage, and anejector operating in the said passage, combined with a door or cover, 0,for the said passage, and a lock for the said door, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

.HADLEY P. FAIRFIELD.

LOUIS A. SHEAD.

Witnesses:

E. H. THARP,

T. H. DIXON.

